What is Serious?
Can the Republicans get serious about anything? Our government is at stake, oour balance of power, our connection to our roots. The closest Republicans to connect with my life would be upset, I’m sure.
The Bush Administration’s minons, Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton, are facing contempt charges. Is that serious? Certainly the Bush Administration is taking that lightly. They believe in executive privelege, something I figure means they get to ride around in limosines some more.
Alberto Gonzales may be facing perjury charges soon. Think about that. He’s the man in charge of our law enforcement apparatus. And he’s facing perjury charges, perhaps the worst charge, ethically, that could face a lawyer. But the White House is taking that lightly. They’re going to hide behind what Dan Froomkin calls “linguistic parsing.”
George Bush’s disapproval ratings are approaching historic levels. Yup. 65% of Americans disapprove of his actions while in office. That rivals Truman and Nixon. Truman, at least, recovered. Nixon resigned in disgrace. I never thought I’d say this, but the Nixon resignation in disgrace looks graceful and honorable next to the Bush Administration actions.
What is serious? To the Bush Administration, evidently none of this is serious. There’s some sort of messianic thinking going on there, I think, whereby they imagine that they are the only ones who understand how to lead this country. That they justify torture and spyuing on US citizens should characterize them well. There’s nothing of kindness in the Buish Administration. No core values besides power.
Last night I looked at my parent’s wedding rings. I may have mentioned this a couple months ago. My mother died. I went to Michigan. To Jackson, Michigan. I took possession of my parent’s wedding rings. And last night I finally noticed that they were engraved on the inside. “JWR & MAB 11/13/49.” Jack Wayman Reynolds and Marian Alberta Barkett. He was of Cherokee stock, and my mother was of Lebanese stock. Oh, yeah, I’m very much a polyglot American. To my mind, that’s serious. Though my parents were Republicans through and through, I learned early that all men were created equal. I remember those trips to the public swimming pool when I was eight years old and coming home and complaining about the black kids. My Mom wouldn’t have any of that. I knew immediately that my lily white upbringing better get used to having black kids on the bus, or else.
Hmm. I’m getting lost here. But am I? The Bush Administration is all about obfuscation, about chipping away at our civil liberties, about ugliness. Over the 90’s I did not respect my parents’ steadfast Republican loyalty. Perhaps it was difficult for them to see what was really happening to their party. But I respect their core values. It’s just so hard anymore to detect any core values in the Republican Party itself.
Sorry for the introspection here. I miss my Mom today.
I’m getting a bit maudlin. I also aquired a picture of my Dad with his brother Doyle when I went up to my mother’s funeral. Dad is about five year old, and he’s got those big ears I remember. His belly is pushing out — he called it his “golf muscle” when he was 60 and 70. Man, that picture is wonderful. My uncle Doyle is in it, too. My Dad’s older brother. He used to tell us a story about how he helped Bonnie and Clyde change a tire, way back in the day. Not sure I believe him. But he’s gone now, too. What a wonderful storyteller he was.
Good piece steve, and important.
Well, you brought tears to my eyes. Luckily my folks are both still with me. My father’s family were staunch Republicans, great grandmother on the RNC, etc. I think nowadays I am glad they aren’t here to see what their party has become.
Todd Shneider has a great song, “Ifeel like missing you today” that fits your maudlin mood. Maybe it’s on Youtube. I’m a big fan of his, he used to be from Memphis. So check him out.
And thanks for your posts, even the depressing ones.
Hey, I’m not trying to boost the Republican Party here, but I think there were good people, back in the day, who called themselves Republican. I didn’t always agree with them, but they were good people, dammit. And I’m not sure I can say that at all anymore, even about my Republican brothers.
i don’t blame ya, i miss mine every day. she died july 4th, 2005. kinda ruined the holiday for me. for abt 6+ months, i did a damned good job of tryin to drink myself to death…and don’t even get me started on my sister, and probate.
i’m tellin ya, they’re settin it up to to set up congress to be superfluous, thus vulnerable to being disbanded…aw, it can’t happen here? the anonymous arrest and torture of american citizens w/o any representation couldn’t happen, either, could it?
buy a rifle time, folks.
i don’t think mine ever voted republican…they remembered rooseveldt.
What a small world. I live just outside Jacson, Mich. You should have stopped over for a beer.Or six.